East Michigan News

Central Michigan University (CMU) will celebrate Juneteenth this year with a series of events spanning three days, aiming to reflect on past celebrations while steering the holiday towards a more deliberate future. The highlight of the celebration is a community gathering at Mount Pleasant’s Island Park from 4 to 8 p.m. on June 19, marking the conclusion of the festivities.

Danny McQuarters Jr., assistant director of Diversity Education in CMU’s Office for Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, explained that this year's event in Mount Pleasant serves two purposes. "The first was to create a bigger sense of community between CMU’s campus and the city," he said. "The second was to give people who live in the city a way to join in a Juneteenth celebration in their backyard."

The event will feature speakers, food trucks, informational tables, and children's activities, mirroring elements from previous celebrations such as the one held on Warriner Mall two years ago.

On June 18, organizers will screen a one-hour documentary addressing historic economic inequalities faced by Black people since the first Juneteenth. The screening will occur at 11 a.m. in the Health Professions Building's auditorium. Following the film, attendees can participate in lunch and breakout conversations facilitated by organizing committee members. "The film is long enough to touch on a good portion of the history," McQuarters noted, adding that attendees will also receive resources for further exploration into the topic.

A virtual keynote address will commence Juneteenth activities on June 17. Illinois artists Stacey Robinson and Kamau Grantham from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will discuss cultural value from 6 to 8 p.m. McQuarters highlighted their focus: “How to get more culture embedded in communities,” and “Why culture is important.”

McQuarters emphasized that one goal for this year’s Juneteenth is fostering a greater sense of community despite much of CMU's campus being less populated during summer months.

Since its recognition as a federal holiday, Juneteenth has been centered around raising awareness and understanding. This year aims not only to continue this tradition but also to evolve it by focusing on persistent economic challenges faced by Black communities.

"Looking at economic challenges that have persisted for Black people is an intentional way of using the holiday to shine a light on the work that remains," McQuarters stated.